Supply Management Category Manager

Job Introduction

We’re looking for a knowledgeable Supply Management (Procurement) Category Manager with incredible influencing skills, awareness of the importance of engaging with key stakeholders and the ability to communicate effectively to join our Procurement team. Looking after a spend of circa £40-50m you’ll be keen to make an impact on efficiency and bottom line spend whilst ensuring we meet our corporate and social responsibilities (CSR) with an ethical sourcing strategy.

Responsible for category strategy you’ll be able to identify efficiencies and implement a high performing supply chain, you’ll deliver a quality service to the Sodexo segments and build strong relationships internally and externally. You’ll balance this strategic approach with the day to day tactical management of the category, often working with complex supply chains and requests from colleagues and co-workers. You’ll bring the ability to juggle multiple priorities and the mindset of rolling up your sleeves to get stuck in!

You’ll be relish the opportunity to work across a diverse range of categories, developing and delivering robust, sustainable and effective solutions using your innovative flair!

You’ll be joining a well established, team with heaps of experience who can’t wait to welcome the newest member of their team, working collaboratively whist still maintaining a level of autonomy will be key to your success in this position.

Although this position will not have a fixed location some UK&I travel will be required once safe to do so

Role Responsibility

• To lead a sourcing strategy across the UK&I covering both technical and quality performance for the service lines
• Design and implement category strategies which significantly improve the commercial performance at regional level whilst maintaining compliance to company policy and standards, mitigating risk and achieve alignment with Sodexo’s Social Impact Pledge
• Engage with global buying teams in active collaboration for developing categories globally
• Build a strong network within the Supply Management both at a regional and local level
• Work with key stakeholders within Supply Management teams in the UK (Deployment and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) teams
• Be able to take into account the differences between the UK and ROI geographical requirements and business needs when developing the sourcing strategy
• Design and implement adequate strategies to achieve high performance and compliance levels meanwhile ensuring continuity and risk mitigation
• Ensure the relevant due diligence and buying process is adopted across all categories within remit.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience of category management and strong knowledge of principles of procurement process
• A strong level of resilience and the ability to identify the opportunities in challenges Working towards CIPS / ISM or equivalent qualification
• Confident working in a multi-cultural and matrix environment
• Ability to design and implement tenders using e-sourcing tools
• Proven track records in contract negotiation
• Strong presentation skills both verbally and written 
• Team player with excellent communication and influencing skills
• Financial acumen and result orientated

Package Description

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster and much more

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo’s connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge (Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design (Wx); employee engagement and recognition services (Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.  

Vital Spaces is Sodexo’s value proposition that puts people at the heart of everything we do, bringing together services and solutions and focusing on the productivity and wellbeing of people wherever they are.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. 

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.